Belgian Directly Linked To Paris Attacks Arrested In Morocco
ITV News has a couple more details about the breaking story that a Belgian man with direct links to the November 13 attacks in Paris has been arrested in Morocco.
According to ITV, the Moroccan Interior Ministry said the man is a Belgian national of Moroccan descent. The Ministry have only disclosed an initial in Arabic and said the suspect allegedly fought with the Al Nusra Front -- Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate -- in Syria before joining the IS group.
The U.S.-led coalition has released information on its latest strikes against the IS group in Iraq and Syria.
A Belgian man with "direct links" to those involved in the November 13 attacks in Paris has been arrested in Morocco, AFP is reporting.
The IS group claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks, in which 130 people were killed.
Clashes Between IS, Libyan Army In Benghazi
Al Wasat news and other sources are reporting clashes between IS militants and the Libyan army in Benghazi in the early hours of this morning.
This map by Libya's Al Wasat news shows where the IS group is active in the country.
The militants control over 150 miles of coastline around Sirte and has advanced eastwards to take Bin Jawad to the north west of the oil terminal of Sidra.
Ramadi A 'Ghost Town' After Battle To Retake It From IS
Although the Iraqi military has retaken the town of Ramadi in Iraq's western province of Anbar, the town is now deserted, with buildings flattened by air strikes and homes and stores abandoned by residents.
Most of Ramadi's half a million strong population has fled and is living in refugee camps, while their homes have been booby trapped by IS militants as they retreated.
IS Attacks On Libya's Oil Terminals Raises Risk For Oil Sector
The recent attacks by the IS group on Libya's "oil crescent" underscores the threat to the country's oil industry, Reuters reports.
IS has now retreated -- for now -- from the oil ports of Ras Lanuf and Sidra after three days of attacks, but oil infrastructure is still vulnerable.
The Moscow branch of the Red Cross has asked Russia's Defense Minister for permission to join humanitarian aid convoys in Syria, pro-Kremlin news agency RIA Novosti is reporting.
Moscow Red Cross chairman Igor Trunov said his organization had written to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on January 15.
The move came after Shoigu said last week that Russia intended to deploy a humanitarian mission to help civilians in Syrian cities besieged by the IS group.
IS Captures New Areas In Eastern Syria
IS militants have captured new areas near the city of Deir al-Zor in eastern Syria, opposition activists say.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says IS captured areas north of Deir al-Zor today including an army base in Ayash village. Another opposition activist also said IS captured Ayash.
IS already controls most of Deir al-Zor province and Deir al-Zor city.
Putin To Discuss Syria With Qatari Emir
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he would discuss the situation in the Middle East with Qatari Emir Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani, according to Russian media reports.
"Qatar is a very important part of the situation in the Middle East, and the Gulf. We hope to discuss this situation with you, exchange views, seek answers and solutions to the most complex and problematic issues," Putin was quoted as saying.
The Kremlin website is now reporting that Putin has met with al-Thani though exact details of what was discussed have not yet been reported in the Russian media.